This week, the interesting news emerged that Bahrain's Economic Development Board hired the largest PR firm in the U.K., Bell Pottinger, for a new $20 million public relations contract.

According to The Holmes Report, a PR trade publication, the agreement “aims to boost inward investment in Bahrain,” and “is a vital component of Bahrain's efforts to restore its global reputation as a business-friendly haven.” This, against a backdrop of Bahrain's record on human rights being described as “dismal” — and severe and regular discrimination and awful treatment of people.

Americans are also working with Bahrain — Washington, D.C.-based firm Qorvis Communications earned nearly half a million dollars from the Bahrain Embassy in 2012-2013. Amid this worldwide criticism are indications that Bahrain has spent $32 million on U.S. and U.K. PR agencies since February 2011.

And there’s many spinning for controversial nations. Patton Boggs worked for Gadhafi, and infamously, International PR Agency Brown Lloyd James worked to enhance the image of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, in work they described as to "…assist the Libyan government in its efforts to reach out to the international political community through the United Nations and to the U.S. political and university community."

Fenton Communications worked with Qatar to orchestrate an international anti-Israel campaign aimed at breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and also work for "Al Fakhoora," a Qatar-based pro-Palestinian initiative that has "launched an advocacy campaign to file legal charges against Israel and change the public perception in the West about its actions."

Other Westerners have worked with interests of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror groups. This is an issue which will not go away — controversy brings media inquiries, and media inquiries require public relations handlers.

Are dictators and killers kept secure in office by Public Relations Agencies and well-paid spinners who paint them positively in the media? While Edward Snowden turned over documents to America’s enemies, one wonders if there are public relations companies helping to spin ideas and concepts against American interests and being paid well for it.

Ronn Torossian is one of America’s foremost Public Relations executives as founder/CEO of 5WPR, a leading independent PR Agency. The firm was honored as PR Firm of the Year by The American Business Awards, and has been named to the Inc. 500 List. Torossian is author of the best-selling "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations." For more of Ronn Torossian's reports, Go Here Now.